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16 December 2013

Pattern Puzzle - Drape Shift

Solved with lightening speed by Alison Calderwood, Julie Eilber and RedPointTailor, last Saturdays #PatternPuzzle turns out to be a fab summer shift. The image below has the puzzle shape right way up with some notations to help make sense of the thing.

Yes Julie, the opposite seasons thing is interesting when you are blogging/chatting around the world. All I'm thinking about is how to make the lightest, loosest linen frocks to wear over the scorching xmas break. We will be spending most of the festive season in rural NSW. Stinking Hot most of the time! :/What about this dress as a merino jersey pinafore for winter?

Hi. I hope I don't sound too much of an idiot in asking this question, but I love wearing drapes, they are my absolute favourite but I am quite new to sewing. And I haven't a clue about pattern making. Would l be able to just enlarge one of your patterns, cut it out and sew it up?Thanks in advance!

Yes I think you could do that with some of these puzzles. I don't think it would end up 'techo perfecto' but I think it would make a great start for a new pattern. So be prepared to throw out the first test sample - all in the pursuit of great learning. I'm happy to help as you go along so feel free to comment or email direct. Do you know which style you would like to try? Anita

I have been sewing and creating for 48 plus years. Love to sew for our grand daughters. I am ready for a new challenge, and this may be it. the one question that I have is what is a "woven block"? Thanks for all the patterns and ideas.

Hi and thanks for dropping by our blog. My apologies, the 'woven block' is my shorthand for the womens fitted block or sloper (same thing). It is the starting point for many of the pattern puzzles. This one however is cut on a knit block specifically drafted for two-way stretch fabric. Have you ever worked with blocks/slopers before?

I love this pattern and am in the midst of attempting it did you make it up ? What did you find if you did? I have made mine in a two way stretch and have made it above the knee. I wil link your page to my blog when I post it.

Hey Anita! Here's my version with a breakdown of my work process. My fabric wasn't ideal (we talked about that on FB) but I'm willing to give this pattern a secnd chance! Check it out: http://titesmains.wordpress.com/2015/01/03/encore-un-casse-tetes/ Thanks again :D

Hi Julia, thx for letting me know about your post and thanks for the links back to the blog. Your dress looks great in the sweat shirt fabric. I would be interested to see how it draped with a softer knit if you fancy making again. I will be sharing on FB later in the week. :)

Just added a translation button! It's in the right column at the bottom.

I am willing to try the woven version in a very nice drapey fabric I have here but still undecided - do you think the drape of the fabric and the bias-cut body of the dress would compensate the absence of side seams/darts I could take in? That was, I feel, the biggest problem with my first try (even if I admit my choice of fabric wasn't ideal).

Thanks for the translate button, things make so much more sense. :) Regarding the drape shifts I think perhaps you would prefer a more fitted style pattern if you like to accentuate the body. If you look at the recent Vivienne Drape Dress you will get some drape with a closer, flattering fit. Let me know what you think. :)

Hi, I had an attempt of this dress and made it from a stretch jersey. It didn't end up looking like the sketch but I am happy with the result. Its on the blog http://suessewbynme.com/2015/01/18/a-draped-shift-take-1/

Hi Sue, thanks so much for letting me know about your Drape Shift sample and your link back to this blog. :) I think your dress looks great and would be perfect for our extremely hot summer days. If you are thinking of making adjustments to the pattern for your next sample I suggest a narrower hemline to push the emphasis onto the drape seam.

And now that I have seem two samples made (you and Julia) from these instructions I am thinking of some changes to the above post. I would increase the length of the drape seam to the mid thigh area. And I would taper the hemline by 3cm back to 0cm at the hip. Thank you so much for testing our ideas and helping us to perfect our pattern making instructions. :)